Constitutions which suffer from deficient nutrition, not because food is lacking in quality or in quantity, but from imperfect assimilation ( Barayta carbonica , Calcarea ); Silicea is oversensitive, physically and mentally.

Scrofulous, rachitic children with large heads; open fontanelles and sutures; much sweating about the head (lower than Calcarea ) which must be kept warm by external covering ( Sanicula ); distended abdomen; weak ankles; slow in learning to walk.

Great weariness and debility; wants to lie down.

Nervous debility; exhaustion with erythism; from hard work and close confinement; may be overcome by force of will.

Restless, fidgety, starts at least noise.

Anxious, yielding, fainthearted.

For silicea mental labor is very difficult; reading and writing fatigue, cannot bear to think.

Silicea Ailments: caused by suppressed foot-sweat ( Cuprum , Graphites , Psorinum ); exposing the head or back to any slight draught of air; bad effects of vaccination, especially abscesses and convulsions ( Thuja ); chest complaints of stonecutters with total loss of strength.

Silicea Children are obstinate, headstrong, cry when spoken kindly to ( Iodium ).

Vertigo: spinal, ascending form back of neck to head; as if one would fall forward, from looking up ( Pulsatilla , – looking down, Kal. , Spigelia ).

Chronic sick headaches, since some severe disease of youth ( Psorinum ); ascending from nape of neck to the vertex, as if coming from the spine and locating in one eye, especially the right (left, Spigelia ); < draught of air or uncovering the head; > pressure and wrapping up warmly ( Magnesia muriatica , Stron. ); > profuse urination.

Silicea Constipation: always before and during menses (diarrhoea before and during menses, Ammonium carb. , Bovista ); difficult, as from inactivity of rectum; with great straining, as if rectum was paralyzed; when partly expelled, recedes again ( Thuja ).

Amelioration. – Warmth, especially from wrapping up the head; all the symptoms except gastric, which are > by cold food ( Lycopodium ).

Silicea is the chronic of Pulsatilla.

About the author

H.C.Allen

Dr. Henry C. Allen, M. D. - Born in Middlesex county, Ont., Oct. 2, 1836. He was Professor of Materia Medica and the Institutes of Medicine and Dean of the faculty of Hahnemann Medical College. He served as editor and publisher of the Medical Advance. He also authored Keynotes of Leading Remedies, Materia Medica of the Nosodes, Therapeutics of Fevers and Therapeutics of Intermittent Fever.